‘Downton Abbey’ Series 5: UK Air Date, Trailer and Early Cast List Released

After being away from our screens for what seems like forever, ITV have now finally revealed the UK air date and time for season 5 of Downton Abbey.

Episode 1 of the new series will premiere at 9:00pm on Sunday 21 September, 2014. By ITV’s standards though, three weeks in advance actually represents quite an early start date announcement.

Even though US fans of the Crawley’s got their date revealed a while back, American viewers will have to wait until Sunday 4 January, 2015, for their release on Masterpiece.

Downton’s cast list will feature a bunch of familiar names, plus the addition of such guest stars as Anna Chancellor, Rade Sherbedgia and Richard E Grant.

Downton Abbey Series 5 Early Confirmed Cast List

Character – Actor/Actress

Simon Bricker – Richard E Grant

Dowager Lady Anstruther – Anna Chancellor

Kuragin – Rade Sherbedgia

Robert Crawley – Hugh Bonneville

Violet Crawley – Dame Maggie Smith

Mary Crawley – Michelle Dockery

Mr Charles Carson – Jim Carter

Anna Bates – Joanne Froggatt

Cora Crawley – Elizabeth McGovern

Thomas Barrow – Rob James-Collier